Oklahoma's Federal Health Care Lawsuit Allowed To Continue

A federal judge has denied part of the federal government's motion to dismiss Oklahoma's lawsuit challenging the new federal health care law.

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt

Credit Oklahoma Attorney General's Office

U.S. District Judge Ronald White handed down the ruling Monday in Muskogee. The ruling grants parts of the government's request to dismiss the case but denies other parts.

White rejected the government's argument that Oklahoma lacked standing to challenge the law. The decision means that parts of the lawsuit, filed by OklahomaAttorney General Scott Pruitt in 2011, will continue to be litigated.

Pruitt challenged implementation of the law after the Internal Revenue Service finalized a rule to allow the government to punish "large employers," including state governments, with millions of dollars in penalties in states without state health care exchanges. Pruitt says that is not permitted.